In my 20 years of running and 9 years in government and corporate environments, I have encountered a range of leaders and leadership styles, good and bad.
Anyone can run a leadership workshop. But not many have the experience of elite sporting success both individually and as a team. Coaching for high level performance is a different ball game altogether, and involves honest feedback, planning, mental clarity, and focus; traits that I have developed and honed through my years in high performance sports.
Learn from my positive experiences with lawrence wong, edwin tong, pritam singh and more!
Some leaders have inspired me, brought out the best in me and helped me find success and excel, such as my 3 running coaches, Steven Quek, Ian Dobson and Ben Rosario. From them I learned a variety of practical lessons in team organisation and leading by example.
I have also been lucky in my career to meet a variety of talented and inspiring leaders. Lien Choong Luen, the current President of Singapore Athletics, has inspired me with his calm head and constant support for athletes like myself, even through times of turbulence.
I’ve had the experience of meeting political leaders on both sides of the fence, such as Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition. I was greatly influenced by his humility and graciousness even as he faced testing times from what many viewed as political persecution. At the same time, I’ve been fortunate enough to have lunch discussions with ministers such as Edwin Tong, who pleasantly surprised me with his humour and willingness to go the extra mile to help.
I was to very fortunate to meet Minister Lawrence Wong during his time as Minister of Community, Culture and Youth. Despite not having a sports background, he won my respect with his enthusiasm and humility in meeting and interacting with our athletes at the 2015 SEA Games. Lawrence Wong has been sworn in as Prime Minister of Singapore from May 2024.
Learn from MY MISTAKES, AND FROM real-life negative EXAMPLES WITH SENIOR “LEADERS” TOO
On the other hand, I have also encountered ‘leaders’ with big titles and huge responsibilities who were entirely undeserving of their position of leadership. I have met, during my time working for the government, a senior director who had yet to learn how to print a simple certificate. Another example is a former senior sports administrator and army general, who shut down his social media accounts due to an extramarital affair being exposed. Surely someone who hides like a coward doesn’t have the skills to bravely lead in times of conflict and war?
I have studied numerous leaders through my wide range of experiences throughout Singapore and further afield. Despite my headstrong personality and the fact some have found me hard to manage, I have met leaders who have managed to get the best out of me, help me and excel and benefit not only myself but the team as a whole.
my own experiences as a leader
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As a leader, I have coached over 100 athletes through my Academy, including the London-based running group, the Battersea Bandits. I hold a Business Administration degree from the University of Oregon and a Law degree from University College London. I have also mentored younger athletes, most notably serving as a mentor for Team Singapore at the 2023 SEA Games. In 2024, I was a keynote speaker at the Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand Hugo Boss Power Within Yourself Conference.
I offer a unique perspective on the principles elite athletes use to train and prepare for competition. With experience competing—and succeeding—at the highest levels, I translate these skills into lessons that are not only valuable for peak sporting performance but also for leadership and success in professional environments.